Press release

China beat Japan to win Asian Women’s C'ship and earn World Cup spot

China celebrate after beating Japan in the final of Asian Women's Volleyball Championship on Friday

Taiwan, Chinese Taipei, September 23, 2011 – China added another gem to their extensive collection of gold medals in the Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship with a thrilling 3-1 (25-16, 25-17, 25-27, 25-17) victory over Japan in the title match of the 16th edition on Friday at Taiwan University Gymnasium.

The Championship doubled as a qualifier for both the FIVB Women's World Cup 2011 and the FIVB World Grand Prix 2012. China, as champions, will move onto the World Cup in Japan, while hosts Japan qualify automatically. Bronze medallists Korea still have a chance to go to Japan if their world ranking is higher than the runners-up in other continental championships.

Korea and Thailand – in addition to Japan and China – also earned spots in next year's World Grand Prix.

China’s Wang Yimei was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, while teammates Yang Junjing and Wei Qiuyue were voted Best Blocker and Best Server, respectively.

It was China’s 12th Asian crown.

Final

China 3, Japan 1

China defeated Japan in a dramatic 3-1 (25-16, 25-17, 25-27, 25-17) thriller to enhance their position as the most prolific winners of the tournament.

The Chinese relied on effective blocks, strong attacks and killing serves as they cruised through the first two sets with little resistance from Japan. In the third set, China continued to have the upper hand until 22-19 when Japan fought back and took the set as China touched the net twice. Although Japan led in the early stages of the fourth set, China rallied with solid blocks and relentless spikes, taking the set, the match and the title.

World No. 10 Korea rallied twice to beat defending champions Thailand in a very close five-setter (22-25, 26-24, 23-25, 27-25, 15-13) to take the bronze medal.

Korea ace Kim Yeon Koung topped all scorers with an impressive 38 points –37 spikes and one block – followed by Kim Hee Jin with 19 points. Jung Dae Young and Yoon Hye Suk added 12 and 11, respectively. Thailand’s fierce spiker Onuma Sittirak gained 26 points for her team, followed by captain Wilavan Apinyapong with 22 and T. Pleumjit with 16. Korea held the advantage in blocks (8-5) while Thailand held an 10-5 advantage in service aces. In attacks, Korea had the edge 81-76 and made 19 errors compared with 21 by Thailand.

Fifth-place playoff

Chinese Taipei 3, DPR Korea 1

Hosts Chinese Taipei came back from losing the first set to outplay DPR Korea 3-1 (17-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-18), claiming fifth place in the tournament, one position higher than in the last edition.

Vietnam’s P.T.K. Kue scored a match-high 21 points – 18 from spikes, two from serves and one block – while captain N.T.N. Hoa and P.T. Yen contributed 17 and 11, respectively. For Iran, the top scorer was Z. Giveh with 14 points, followed by B. Niazi and P. Zare with 11 each.